Chemotherapy treatment given according to standard protocols and guidelines.
Counseling done before and during Chemotherapy.
Special Chemotherapy Chairs for therapy.
Continuous Monitoring by Well Trained Nurses and Physicians during Chemotherapy.
We have Laminar Flow Hoods equipment for safe chemotherapy:
1. Provide clean air to the working area.
2. Provide a constant flow of air out of the work area to prevent room air from entering.
3. The air flowing out from the hood suspends and removes contaminants introduced into the work area by personnel.
Chemotherapy is the general term for any treatment involving the use of chemical agents to stop cancer cells from growing. Chemotherapy can eliminate cancer cells at sites great distances from the original cancer. As a result, chemotherapy is considered a systemic treatment.
Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells; unfortunately, it cannot tell the difference between a cancer cell and some healthy cells. So chemotherapy eliminates not only the fast-growing cancer cells but also other fast-growing cells in your body, including, hair and blood cells.
Once you and your doctor have decided on a treatment plan, talk with your doctor about all you can do to make sure you get the full dose of your cancer treatment on schedule. We encourage our patients to be told the diagnosis, read about it and have good information about the anticipated side effects. This helps better patient care in our opinion. We encourage a positive attitude during treatment for maximum benefit of treatment. We become part of that family.
An undesirable consequence of chemotherapy affecting your bodynot related to your canceris referred to as a complication of treatment, or a side effect. Some common side effects of chemotherapy are:
Low white blood cell count (can cause infection)
Low haemoglobin, ( can cause breathlessness and fatigue needing blood transfusion)
Low platelet count (can cause bleeding)
Nausea
Vomiting
Hair loss
Fatigue
Infections
Some side effects may be temporary and uncomfortable. Some can cause dose reductions and treatment delays or even be life-threatening, needing hospitalization in an appropriate ward or ICU.
Chemotherapy drugs can be given in a variety of different ways.
Oral chemo medications (taken by mouth)
Oral chemotherapy medications - those that can be swallowed - come in a variety of oral forms (pills, tablets, capsules, liquid), all of which can be absorbed by the stomach or under the tongue.
Oral chemo medications that are swallowed are encased in a protective coating that is broken down by the digestive juices in the stomach.
Some chemotherapy can be given by multiple methods such as subcutaneous or intravenous depending on the strength, convenience, and regimen that has been prescribed.
Subcutaneous injection of chemo treatments
Subcutaneous injections (sub-q) involve the use of a short needle such as those used by diabetics for the injection of insulin.
With subcutaneous injection of chemo treatment, the needle goes into the space between the skin and muscle but does not enter as far the muscle layer.
Subcutaneous chemo injections are commonly used for some types of biologic response modifiers and chemotherapy support drugs.
If a patient's platelet count is low subcutaneous injections are less likely to cause bleeding than intra- muscular injections.
Intra-muscular chemo injections
Intra-muscular injections are given through the skin into the muscle layer. This involves the use of a larger needle with deeper penetration than the subcutaneous injection. The medication is deposited in the muscle tissue.
Intra-muscular injection is a popular method for anti- nausea medications because it bypasses an already irritated stomach.
Intravenous chemo treatments
Intravenous administration of therapy medication allows for rapid entry into the body's circulation, where it is carried throughout the body in the blood stream. This is the most common method of chemotherapy administration, since most chemo drugs are easily absorbed through the blood stream. Intravenous administration offers the most rapid absorption time of all currently available methods and the most versatile. IV methods also enable more flexibility with drug dosing. Intravenous medications are given directly into the blood stream through a variety of methods.
An angiocatheter may be placed in a vein in the arm or hand and then removed after the chemo medication is given. This is a temporary venous-access device inserted by a nurse prior to treatment then removed after treatment has been completed. The in-use time of angiocatheters generally ranges from a few minutes to a 3 days.
PICC line. Although still considered temporary, a PICC line can be inserted and used for six weeks to a few months before it is discontinued. PICC line insertion involves the placement of a long plastic catheter into one of the larger veins of the arm. This procedure is a non-surgical outpatient procedure. A special x-ray, called fluoroscopy will confirm that the PICC line catheter is in the right place. This option is ideal for multiple short infusions or continuous infusions given in a hospital or at home with a portable pump.
Port-a-cath. A more permanent option involves the placement of a port-a-cath. The port-a-cath can be felt under the skin and the nurse can find the entrance by locating the edges of the port-a-cath and inserting (cannulating) a special needle (called a Huber needle) into the soft middle section. Medications can be given through the port-a-cath and blood can be drawn from it eliminating the need for a blood draw from the arm. The use of a portable pump and port-a-cath allows the medication to be given over several days in the home setting rather than as a patient in the hospital. There are no dressing changes required but there is some maintenance involved.